Me and Eno down by the schoolyard

Play it: Paul Simon Surprise
Play it: Brian Eno / Paul Simon - Parallel Works '72-'92

It may be that it's just too abstract for a lot of people. It may be that, as with Brian's work, it's meant to speak to a specific group of listeners, and that group may not number in the millions. They might number in the thousands. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it, it just means that you have to accept that you're going to be talking to a smaller group of people.
- Paul Simon, NY Times (05/07/2006)

The Surprise here is the odd pairing of Paul Simon with Brian Eno. Both were 70's icons of completely different worlds - Simon of the popular, Eno of the cult (see second playlist for a comparative parallel output from '72-'92.) So hearing Simon's familiar phrasings and rhthymic based lyrics over a bed of Eno textures you'd think would a surreal experience - and at first, it perhaps is - but it feels more natural then it really should. Like Graceland, when he paired up with musicians from South Africa, Simon's embrase of Eno's sonic architecture (Eno's credited on the album with 'Sonic Landscape by') feels seamless, and together they've crafted a fitting comeback album for Simon.

Standout songs include the sure to be classics like the post-9/11 opener "How Can You Live in the Northeast" and the surprisingly funky "Outrageous." Meanwhile, the very personal "Beautiful" speaks the joy of fatherhood in such a way I probably cannot be objective about it's qualities (disarming the critic/new father is so unfair!)

Eno in his instrumentation, manages to subtly include appearances by Bill Frisell on guitar and Herbie Hancock on keyboards, but it's hard to notice, and that's a compliment. Regardless of the sonic landscape, though, Surprise still sounds like Paul Simon - and the best Simon we've had since Graceland. While it's probably a song or two from being a masterpiece, it still a welcome return for Simon to his better songwriting days.

The second playlist above follows the parallel works of Eno and Simon (AMG) from '72 through '92. I stop at '92 because Simon's output became more sporadic after his marriage to Edie Brickell (while Eno production became almost ubiquitous thanks to his breakthrough work with U2 and Talking Heads.)

tags: music, paul simon, brian eno, rhapsody, album review